From the Rt Revd Dr David Atkinson
Sir, - The Bishops of the Church in Sweden have issued a
pastoral letter: theirs is about climate change. With scientific
and theological persuasiveness, they call on the Church to tackle
climate change with urgency, and they link this with positive
affirmation of our responsibility in God's creation, and with the
calling to live justly and sustainably.
They recognise that the climate crisis is "an existential and
spiritual crisis"; rightly link alleviation of poverty with climate
change; and, drawing on 2 Corinthians 8, call for a fair
distribution of resources. They say that the management of the
Church's assets - in shares, forests, and land - needs to reduce
climate impact and accelerate the transition to a fossil-free
economy.
The Church of England response seems more sluggish. Our General
Synod a year ago debated these issues and set up a working party.
We are eagerly waiting to see what they are doing. Our Ethical
Investment Advisory Group started reviewing its policy on climate
change nearly two years ago, and we are still waiting to see the
revised policy.
The recent, very welcome shareholder resolution that was
promoted by church investors, requiring BP to be more transparent
in its relation to climate change, reportedly took three years to
negotiate.
It seems that many people outside the C of E are treating
climate change with urgency. The President of the World Bank called
for the immediate scrapping of subsidies for fossil fuels. The
United Nations is giving support to universities, other
institutions, and even some Rockefeller Funds in their campaign for
disinvestment from fossil-fuel extraction. The Governor of the Bank
of England has warned investors about a possible "carbon bubble".
How can we in the Church of England treat this issue more
urgently?
David Atkinson
6 Bynes Road, Croydon CR2 0PR